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This village was called Vestovoe, but the lone traveler did not know about it. He chose the road by chance, focusing only on the fact that it seemed to him the most traveled. He did not have a horse, he walked, from the things only a sword in a sheath on his belt, and a small bag over his shoulder.

- It is he? – Swirly asked doubtfully, he openly looked at the tall dark-haired guy approaching the gate. Today he and Cybor were acting as guards, and the warriors had to be bribed to take their place for a while. Both are of medium height, thin, lithe, and not at all similar in build to the guards. The form obtained from someone else's shoulder looked baggy on them, but there was no other.

The traveler looked very young, almost a boy, but he walked confidently, as if this road did not lead from the forest, along which only well-armed detachments dared to move. Bright gray eyes with calm curiosity looked at the self-proclaimed guards, lingered on the open gate and glanced further - to the road deep into the village. His clothes were inexpensive, but solid and inconspicuous, like on hunters who go to the forest for a long time in search of prey - low leather boots, tight pants, a shirt with ties at the throat and a leather jacket with a hood. Everything was dark gray in color, there were no stripes or signs that betrayed his belonging to any kind or profession on his clothes.

"He is," Cybor said quietly. - Malika said about being alone, there are no more travelers here. Yes, it matches the description.

- How old is he? Whirlwind whispered all the same doubtfully. Somehow I couldn’t believe that the one who was called the cursed prince was so young.

- Sixteen. He disappeared as a child, five years have passed.

- Sixteen? Well, yes, yes, - Whirlwind nodded and involuntarily remembered the last lines of the contract - to immobilize, in case of resistance, serious injuries are allowed. This means that the victim is needed alive, but apparently only until a certain time, otherwise it would not be allowed to injure. But all the same, all this is strange, the guy disappeared five years ago, all this time they were looking for him, but now the search has suddenly intensified with renewed vigor. And only due to the fact that their magician had a thing that belonged to the prince, and the detachment was not far from the Vestovoy, Malika was able to determine that the target was very close. This is such an unexpected set of circumstances. Or are they just lucky?

- Something he is too calm. Isn't this a trap? Whispered Whispered.

"Malika said there were no more travelers here," Cybor repeated and shook his head. - He's alone.

Swirly and Cybor looked at each other, the guy slowly walked between them, did not say anything, did not ask anything. And they, as guards, should not have been interested in the affairs of travelers who did not pose a threat. And what kind of threat could there be from a boy armed with one sword? Try to stop for no reason and immediately the locals will become interested, they will raise a noise. The people here are curious, but there is little entertainment. Therefore, you will have to wait and act quietly. The main thing is that their goal is here and will not be able to get away.

If Malik had been a stronger sorceress, everything would have been easier - they would have met him on the forest road, they would have immobilized him there and no one would have known that there was such a traveler. But, unfortunately, all she could say was that he was close and moving towards them. Therefore, they had to wait, they simply did not know where he would come from. Vestovoe is an interweaving of trade roads, there is only one gate, and there are many crossroads on a wide meadow in front of the village. They were also lucky that the season was over, otherwise caravans would be moving into the village one after another. And so only one traveler came in half a day and exactly the one they needed.

- Ha, I understand, - suddenly Cybor said tensely, he, without looking up, looked at the guy's back. I understand why he is alone and where he comes from. Everything fits!

- Well, well, let's tell, - demanded Whirlwind.

- Hmm, there is a lapel from that road, it leads to the Vistoltsy portal. Didn't you hear the Gates opened this morning? – excitedly chattered his partner. - He disappeared for five years, five years, Whirlwind, and returns from the direction of Vistolca. He was hiding right there!

- Uh, - the mercenary moved his helmet and scratched his head, red whirlwinds sticking out in all directions instantly slipped out from under the headdress. “Y-yes, it looks very much like the truth. Only there is a catch - they accept only the doomed and certainly do not let anyone back. But the version is good.

- Ha, you say, too - not bad. How do we know who they accept and who they don't. These are all rumors. The main thing is that the portal opens once every five years. It was at that time that the prince disappeared, and now, when the portal is reopened, he has returned. Everything fits!

- Okay, I think he will tell us everything himself, - Whirlwind grinned wryly. - Malika knows how to ask.

- Uh-huh, - Cybor saw how the guy lingered at the gate to the inn and froze in front of a piece of paper posted on the fence. The mercenary involuntarily clenched his fists. - All of this is untimely.

Heralds reached the Vestovoy last night and announced that King Bortan was resuming the search for his son. There is a reward for any information about the cursed prince. Sheets with a description of the guy were hung all over the village. The only good news was that the description was made from an eleven-year-old child, but how many people in the kingdom have gray eyes and black hair? Everything else is completely insignificant.

The boy finally moved and entered the yard. Following him, a company of ten tipsy soldiers appeared at the gate - they left the neighboring alley and moved to the inn. Cybor gritted his teeth angrily, the uniforms of the soldiers were Dytre - strangers from a neighboring kingdom who had come here to rest. The border of Daitra was across the river, the bridge was guarded by soldiers, but no one forbade them to cross the border of Miros in order to visit the nearest village - Vestovoe. Relations with neighboring kingdoms have always remained friendly. But it was precisely because of foreign warriors that frequent skirmishes occurred in Vestovoe - Dieter soldiers did not like it when they were denied something. And they could ask for anything - from services to money.

"I'll go and have a look," Cybor decided. - I don't like it.

The swirling one nodded and pointed with his hand at two figures, under the guise of ordinary villagers, heading towards the same gate to the inn - Commander Riton and Malika - a tall, stately man and a swarthy, dark-haired girl. All the rest of their squad were also somewhere nearby. Cybor himself saw them, but nevertheless stepped after him, the form of a guard could play a good role in the upcoming action.

The imaginary guard looked into the wide courtyard and ran a quick glance around the entire inner space. He had been here more than once, he knew where everything was. On the right is a stable, several loaded carts are standing near the wall, their owners are walking nearby, preparing to leave. If you go forward, you will get to the doors of the tavern, cheerful voices can be heard from there, it seems that the Daitra soldiers are right there. It remains to find out where the guy is. Cybor was about to move towards the tavern when he noticed Maliki's dress flickering by the stables. The girl was talking carelessly about something with the visiting merchant, Rhyton was walking nearby, looking at the gate of the stable. The mercenary froze and decided to wait.

What bothered me the most was the fact that Dieter soldiers kept peeking out of the windows of the tavern. Then at once four of them went out into the yard and stared in the direction of the stables. They talked merrily and sometimes laughed. Cybor swore softly, a black-haired guy appeared from the gate of the stable, on the occasion he led a saddled black horse, apparently he bought it. A groom hurried after him, saying something quickly, then he saw a soldier, stopped abruptly and backed away. The guy followed him with a strangely calm look, stroked the horse's muzzle and led him to the exit from the yard.

Cybor involuntarily tensed, it was completely unbelievable that the prince would be allowed to leave. A lonely boy is too easy prey for those who want to have fun. The Daitrians chattered merrily, four warriors quickly crossed the yard and blocked the gates, the rest also appeared from the doors of the tavern and went to their comrades. Other guests immediately appeared, it was interesting for everyone to look at the fun, if it did not concern themselves, and the locals began to look at the gate. As a result, a large crowd of people gathered in the courtyard of the tavern.

Cybor looked for Ryton, who shook his head - do not interfere. That's right, the guy is unlikely to be killed, after all, this is a peaceful village, most likely they will bend their sides, take away the money, mock them and let them go. So even better - it will become very easy prey for their squad.